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SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 13, No. 37, March 16, 2015

Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the
South Asia Terrorism Portal


ASSESSMENT

PAKISTAN
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FATA: Exercises in Futility
Tushar Ranjan Mohanty
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

At least 48 ‘terrorists’ were killed [with media access severely restricted, no independent confirmation is available, and the categorization of those killed cannot be verified] on March 13, 2015, as Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets pounded alleged terrorist hideouts in the Kukikhel area of the Tirah Valley in the Khyber Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Military sources claimed that another 15 terrorists were also injured in the jet bombing. The attack comes after exactly a month of silence in the ongoing Operation Khyber-I in the Khyber Agency. On February 12, 2015, seven suspected terrorists were killed and another 15 were injured in PAF air strikes on terrorist hideouts in the Dwa Thoe, Sarrai, Sheikh Kot, Tor Darra, Nangrosa and Speen Drand areas of Tirah Valley in the Khyber Agency. The air strikes were part of Operation Khyber-I in the Khyber Agency launched on October 16, 2014, alongside the full-fledged Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sword of the Prophet) going on in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

The air attack occurs at a time when various splinter groups of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are merging to counter the ongoing military operations in NWA and Khyber Agency. According to a statement issued by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) ‘spokesman’ Ehsanullah Ehsan on March 12, 2015, the reorganized TTP would consist of members of his group, Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and the remaining TTP elements. The head of the new set-up is yet to be named. Ehsan congratulated the “Mujahideen of Pakistan” on the unification of the various militant groups and disclosed that the decision was taken at a meeting attended by Mullah Fazlullah, Omar Khalid Khurasani and Mangal Bagh. Ehsan added that an organising committee had been formed to constitute a central supreme Shura (Council) and an organising body. 

Earlier on the same day, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt together visited NWA, and were briefed about the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb. General Sharif declared that the fleeing terrorists would be chased and eliminated, as there was no place for them to hide now. He added that Operation Zarb-e-Azb would not stop till the job was finished.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched on June 15, 2014, in the aftermath of the attack on the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, on June 8-9, 2014. At least 33 persons, including all 10 attackers, were killed in the Karachi attack. Operation Zarb-e-Azb has, according to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), thus far killed more than 1,516 terrorists and 204 soldiers (no independent verification of fatalities of identities of those killed is available, as media access to the areas of conflict is severely limited). Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, Director General (DG) of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), on January 16, 2015, claimed that SFs had killed 2,000 ‘terrorists’ under Operation Zarb-e-Azb, and also disclosed that 200 soldiers had been killed and another 800 had sustained injuries. 

At least 411 persons, including 356 terrorists, 35 civilians, and 20 SF personnel, have already been killed in FATA in terrorism-related violence in 2015 (till March 15), according to partial data compiled by the SATP. During the corresponding period of 2014, terrorism-linked fatalities stood at 282, including 213 terrorists, 44 SF personnel and 25 civilians, indicating a rise of 45.74 per cent.

Though civilian and SF fatalities in FATA have recorded a seven years decline, overall fatalities have been higher due to the increase in terrorist fatalities under the ongoing military Operations in NWA and Khyber Agency. Total fatalities through 2014 stood at 2,863, including 2,510 terrorists, 194 SF personnel and 159 civilians; as compared to 1,716, including 1,199 terrorists, 319 civilians and 198 SF personnel in 2013.

Fatalities in FATA: 2006-2015*

Years

Civilians
SFs
Militants
Total

2006

109
144
337
590

2007

424
243
1014
1681

2008

1116
242
1709
3067

2009

636
350
4252
5238

2010

540
262
4519
5321

2011

488
233
2313
3034

2012

549
306
2046
2901

2013

319
198
1199
1716

2014

159
194
2510
2863

2015

35
20
356
411

Total

4375
2192
20255
26822
Source: SATP, *Data till March 15, 2015

The number of major incidents (each involving three or more fatalities) in the Province in 2014 increased by 48.87 per cent in comparison to the previous year, principally due to the counter-insurgency operations. The Province accounted for 198 major incidents of violence resulting in 2,709 deaths in 2014, as against 133 such incidents, accounting for 1,534 fatalities in 2013.

However, other parameters of violence, such as suicide attacks, explosions and sectarian attacks remained low throughout 2014. As against nine suicide attacks in 2013, in which 164 persons were killed and another 256 were injured, 2014 registered only three such attacks, resulting in 17 deaths and 17 persons injured. Similarly, there was a considerable decrease in incidents of explosion. In comparison to 122 blasts resulting in 385 fatalities in 2013, 2014 recorded 101 blasts resulting in 179 fatalities. Sectarian violence in the region also registered a steep decline. While both the year 2013 and 2014 had recorded only one such incident, the 2014 incident registered two fatalities and 28 injuries, while 62 were killed and 180 injured in the 2013 incident.

Under pressure from the United States (US) to act against terrorists, Pakistan resumed drone strikes in NWA on June 12, 2014, after a hiatus of nearly five and half months. The last drone target before this had been hit on December 25, 2013. The silencing of US drones coincided with Islamabad’s Government’s process of peace-talks with TTP, while the resumption of strikes followed the collapse of talks with TTP. Pakistan announced of long-pending military operations in NWA, where dreaded terrorists of al Qaeda, the Haqqani Network and Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction of TTP were sheltered, though reports indicate that the strikes have targeted TTP alone. All 19 drone strikes in 2014 have been concentrated in FATA, around the areas where the Army has been conducting its Operation. Nevertheless, Pakistan continues with its duplicitous policy on drone strikes, implicitly approving these, while it registers complaints at every possible international forum.

Meanwhile, terrorist attacks on NATO supply convoys through Pakistan continued, though, with the continuous decline in the Western presence in Afghanistan, and the consequent reduction of dependence on supplies through Pakistan, the numbers have reduced significantly. Out of 18 attacks on NATO supply trucks in 2014, nine incidents were reported from FATA alone. In 2013 FATA accounted for 10 out of 31 such attacks across the country.  

TTP's attacks on educational institutions in the region also registered a decline. As against 12 such attacks in 2013, there were six such attacks in 2014. On April 1, 2014, the Government claimed a limited increase in literacy rates in FATA. A handout quoting an official document stated: "Literacy rate for girls stands at a modest 10.5 per cent compared to 36.66 per cent for boys, despite considerable expenditure incurred by the FATA Secretariat to improve education statistics in the area." Earlier, literacy rates for girls and boys were three per cent and 29.51 per cent, respectively.

An estimated 150,000 families displaced by the military operations in the NWA and Khyber Agency are still languishing in make shift camps at Bannu. More than 10 months have passed since the military operation began and Pakistan has failed to provide adequate assistance to the affected internally displaced persons (IDPs). While Army authorities had claimed the clearing of 90 per cent areas of terrorists by November 16, 2014, the FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) observed, on March 2, 2015, that it had decided to tentatively send back IDP families to just 29 NWA and Khyber Agency villages by the end of March 2015.

Government infrastructures worth PKR one billion have been turned into rubble in conflict-stricken NWA, according to a FATA Line Departments (combining the Health, Education, Irrigation and Agriculture Departments) report of December 31, 2014. The Line Departments of the Civil Secretariat, FATA, carried out a damage need assessment survey of Government owned properties in Mir Ali and Miranshah sub-divisions of NWA. The survey of damaged infrastructure was conducted after SFs had cleared these areas of terrorists. The report claimed that 115 facilities, including education and health establishments, and 102 kilometres of roads, had been either completely or partially damaged in the areas surveyed.

Terrorism and the disproportionate use of force by the state have caused massive collateral damage to property (and to life) in other tribal agencies as well. In August 2014, a damage need assessment survey carried out under the supervision of the FATA FDMA revealed that over 60,000 houses had been damaged in Orakzai, Khyber, South Waziristan and Kurram agencies. A total of 31 educational institutions (six institutions 100 per cent damaged, nine institutions 50 per cent and 16 institutions 20 per cent), eight health facilities, two buildings of the works and services department, 13 facilities of livestock, seven agriculture, eight public health engineering, 35 municipal committee buildings, including 21 shops, two sports facilities and 19 irrigation department establishments had also been damaged.

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar disclosed, on February 18, 2015, that the cost of ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan may exceed USD 1.3 billion. Dar claimed that the Pakistani Government had already spent USD 400 million on the operation and IDPs. 

Despite the hype, the Operations in NWA and Khyber Agency have failed to destroy the organisational network and leadership of the terrorists. This has repeatedly been demonstrated in their capacity to perpetrate carnage, as in the Peshawar Army Public School attack and the bloodbath of innocent Shias at Imambargah (Shia place of worship) in Peshawar. Pakistan is yet to make a decisive break from its long sustained strategy of supporting terrorist groups operating against Indian and Afghanistan, and the linkages of these groups with domestic terrorists operating within the country are growing progressively deeper and more complex. Despite some losses that TTP has suffered, it is likely to rise again out of the rubble that bombardments and drone strikes have created in FATA.

INDIA
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West Bengal: Maoist Decimation
Deepak Kumar Nayak
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

The Maoists, who were rampaging across the Jungal Mahal region of West Bengal in 2009-10, appear to be in no position to do anything to revive the movement in the State after the body blows that they suffered with the killing of politburo member Mallojula Koteswara Rao aka Kishanji, on November 24, 2011. Maoist activities have come to complete halt in the State since then. According to partial data collected by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), West Bengal recorded zero fatalities in all categories in 2014 and, so far, in 2015. According to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) data, not even a single incident of Maoist violence was recorded in West Bengal in 2014, while just one incident was recorded in 2013.

The abrupt decline in Maoist activities is confirmed further by a range of other parameters:

Other Parameters of LWE/CPI-Maoist Violence in West Bengal: 2011-2014

Parameters

2011
2012
2013
2014

No. of incidents

92
6
1
0

Police Informers' Killed (Out of total civilians killed)

11
0
0
0

No. of encounters with police

18
3
0
0

No. of attacks on police (including landmines)

2
1
0
0

No. of Naxalites arrested

238
76
21
6

No. of Naxalites surrendered

15
26
0
3

Total no. of arms snatched

0
0
0
0

Total no. of arms recovered

74
51
40
17

Arms training camps held

10
0
0
0

No of Jan Adalats held

1
0
0
0
Source: MHA

Police inflicted further damage on the Maoists with the arrest of Anup Roy, a CPI-Maoist ‘State Committee’ member, from the Sealdah area of Kolkata District on January 29, 2014. Another top CPI-Maoist leader, Arvind Bachhar (45), wanted in a number of cases including that of a major blast in the Jhitka Forest of Jhargram in West Midnapore District, was arrested from Baduria in North 24 Parganas District on July 27, 2014.  

On June 18, 2014, Police seized 500 detonators and 600 gelatine sticks from a car near Tetulgram village under Kotshila Police Station of Purulia District and arrested two persons, identified as Subal Mahato and Jaladhar Dwari.

On April 18, 2014, two gelatine sticks fitted with detonators were recovered from a main road, about six km from the venue of Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rally at Suri in Birbhum District.

On her part, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has visited Jungal Mahal many times to generate faith in people's minds and to accelerate development. Media assessments indicate that there is little sign of any popular discontentment against her rule in the Jungal Mahal region.

There have, however, been some reports suggesting Maoist plans to revive their movement in the State. Hinting that CPI-Maoist is trying to regroup in the Junglemahal area of West Bengal, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers disclosed that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) were keeping a close watch on inputs about movement of various Maoist leaders in the area. On November 14, 2014, Vivek Sahay, Inspector General (CRPF) West Bengal Sector stated, "I won't say that Maoists are not trying to regroup in Bengal. We get inputs that Maoists leader Ranjit Pal and others are moving here and there in Jungal Mahal... We are on high alert. We have our six battalions placed here. But let me tell you one thing, the situation in Jungal Mahal is much better than it was two-three years back."

On all current indicators, it is clear that the Maoists are in no position to execute an effective plan for their revival in the Jungal Mahal region. However, with the challenging topography of the area, there is no scope for any complacency on parts the SFs, even as Maoist efforts to capitalize on any opportunity can be expected to continue.

INDIA
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Telangana: Maoist Ebb
Fakir Mohan Pradhan
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

After a protracted political slug fest and acrimonious protests, the new State of Telangana was created on June 2, 2014, bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. According to the arrangement, Hyderabad will remain the joint capital for both the States for ten years, after which Andhra Pradesh will have its own capital and Hyderabad will be transferred entirely to Telangana. While Telangana has 10 Districts, the residuary Andhra Pradesh has 13. Interestingly, even as the undivided Andhra Pradesh successfully broke the backbone of Maoist movement in the State, the Maoists managed retain a shadow of their presence in the State. That shadow remains visible in Telangana.

At the time of the creation of Telangana, there was some apprehension that the Maoists would find conditions in the new State favourable to engineer a comeback, particularly in view of the fact that the movement for the bifurcation of Andhra was deeply penetrated by Maoist elements. Eight months after the creation of the new State, however, the profile of Maoist activities has not changed significantly.     

On February 14, 2015, the Bhadrachalam Sub-divisional Police claimed to have foiled a bid by Maoists to plant explosives in the Korkatpadu forest area in Charla mandal in Khammam District to kill policemen. Four persons were arrested, including Madakam Deva (20), a special guerrilla squad (SGS) member and Madakam Jogaiah (21), a ‘militia commander’. The Police team seized one directional mine and one landmine, 100 metres of electric wire, two electrical detonators and one electric battery from them.

On December 28, 2014, the Bhadrachalam Sub-divisional Police had thwarted a bid by Maoists to blast a cell phone tower, after a half- hour exchange of fire, at Satyanarayanapuram in Charla mandal. The Police recovered three weapons, live ammunition, bows and arrows, petrol cans and revolutionary literature from the incident site. SFs reached the spot after receiving specific information about the Maoist plan.

According to partial data compiled by South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), the new State of Telangana, since its inception, recorded two civilian fatalities and one Maoist fatality in 2014. Before the bifurcation, one civilian and one SF trooper had been killed in 2014 in the Telangana region. Thus, the area that now comprises the Telangana State recorded a total of five fatalities - three civilian, one SF trooper [an SPO from Chhattisgarh killed during a private visit] and one suspected Maoist – in 2014. The same area had recorded three fatalities – two civilians and one SF trooper – in 2013. There has, so far, been no casualty in 2015 in Telangana in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-related incidents.

On December 29, 2014, State Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Sharma observed that there was no current Maoist activity in Telangana, but that the ultras enter the State from neighbouring States to attempt mischief: "After bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Greyhounds (anti-Naxal force) was divided and whatever units have come to us, they are good enough. We are also training the District Special Parties to tackle the Maoists." Seven incidents of exchange of fire with Maoists took place during 2014, resulting in the death of one extremist, Sharma added, and as many as 68 Maoists surrendered before Police, while 18 were arrested. 166 Maoist cadres hailing from Telangana were still underground.

On the basis of underground and over ground activities of the Maoists, Khammam District remains moderately affected while Adilabad, Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda Districts are marginally affected.   

The Maoist, however, are unlikely to give up their efforts to revive the movement in Telangana – the region that was, for decades, their ‘heartland’. The Karimnagar Police foiled Maoists’ attempts to revive party activities in the District with the arrest of three persons, including a militant, and the recovery of a huge quantity of ammunition and INR 1.6 million in cash from their possession, on January 13, 2015. Karimnagar DSP J. Rama Rao disclosed that, on credible information, the rural Police arrested Botla Rajendra Kumar (48) of Cheelapur village in Bejjanki mandal (revenue area), Sunil Kumar (53), an illegal arms dealer from Kanpur, and his assistant Vikas Kumar (31), from the Railway Station, and recovered the ammunition and the cash.

Maoists are also making efforts to revive their old dalams (armed squads) in Adilabad District, though the area has not recorded significant rebel activity after the death of Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in an encounter on July 1, 2010. According to sources, the Maoists have revived their Mangi and Indravelli dalams and are focusing on fresh recruitments. Police claim that they were involved in two exchange of fire incidents in and around Mangi Forest in September 2014. In both instances, the Maoists escaped unhurt. Sources indicate that the Maoists are trying hard to impress upon the people that the welfare programmes of the present Telangana Government were only due to the struggle waged by the CPI-Maoist in support of the poor. Some reports suggest that the Maoists are planning to remove Adilabad from the North Telangana Zone (NTZ) and merge it into the Dandakaranya Zone, as this would provide them with a shelter zone when SF pressure is exerted on the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) area.

Telangana has not deviated from the anti-Maoist strategy followed by the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, despite pockets of sympathy in the State’s political leadership. At best, the Maoists would like to use Telangana as a base for their activities in the highly affected and contiguous areas of Chhattisgarh and the Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. There is little evidence, however, that Telangana would provide them the necessary space and licence to secure even this limited objective.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
March 9-15, 2015

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

INDIA

 

Assam

0
0
1
1

Meghalaya

1
4
1
6

Manipur

3
0
0
3

Left-wing Extremism

 

Bihar

0
0
1
1

Chhattisgarh

2
0
0
2

Jharkhand

1
0
2
3

Total (INDIA)

7
4
5
16

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

3
4
13
20

FATA

13
0
48
61

KP

1
1
5
7

Punjab

13
2
4
19

Sindh

6
3
7
16

PAKISTAN (Total)

36
10
77
123
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


BANGLADESH

Government is planning to form a separate force to combat terrorism in the country, says State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal: State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told Parliament on March 12 that the Government is planning to form a separate force to combat terrorism in the country. He said “Counter-terrorism battalion will be formed soon. There are counter terrorism forces in different countries in the world. We are planning to do so.” He said this replying to questions from treasury bench members Tarana Halim and Fazilatunnesa Bappi. Daily Star, March 13, 2015.


INDIA

UMHA issues advisory to J&K Government to watch Masarat Alam Bhat's activities: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has issued an advisory to the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government asking them to keep a close watch on the activities of freed separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat and his associates. The UMHA feels that Alam and his associates are detrimental to the public order and the unity and integrity of the country, particularly J&K. The J&K Government, following the advisory, has told the Centre that Alam's activities are under surveillance and legal action would be initiated against the separatist leader in case of any adverse activities. India Today, March 13, 2015.

AQIS 'chief' spent several years in ISIS linked HuM camp in PoK, says report: The head of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Asim Umar, spent several years working at an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-linked facility run by the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), which trained Kashmir jihadists, suicide-bombers targeting western forces in Afghanistan, and western jihadists. Indian-born cleric Asim Umar, served at the HuM’s Batrasi camp in Mansehra District in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), one of three similar facilities run by the organisation, the sources said. It is also reported that Fazl-ur-Rahman Khalil, the founder of HuM, had carried out secret talks with al-Qaeda on behalf of the ISI. Indian Express, March 13, 2015.

Vested interests attempting to "communalise" situation, says Nagaland Chief Minister: Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang on March 11 stated that vested interests from his state were attempting to "communalise" the situation. Earlier, an Assamese man, who was accused of raping a Naga girl was lynched by a mob in Dimapur on March 5. Asked whether any militant had been arrested, a Senior Police officer skirted the question. Sources alleged that militants had not only instigated the mob to take the law into their hands but had spearheaded the lynching. Telegraph, March 12, 2015.

More than 1,000 killed in ethnic clashes, bomb blasts in Assam over 15 years: Assam witnessed eight ethnic clashes over the past nearly 15 years between 2001 and February 24, 2015, which claimed 535 lives. During this period, 810 bomb blasts also occurred in the State in which 471 persons (395 civilians and 76 security personnel) were killed. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rockybul Hussain tabled these statistics on the floor of the Assam Assembly on March 9 while replying to a question. The Hindu, March 12, 2015.

Coastal Security Surveillance Radar Project launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Seychelles: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Coastal Surveillance Radar Project in Seychelles on March 11 describing it as another symbol of the cooperation between the two countries. "Our security partnership is strong. It has enabled us to fulfill our shared responsibility to advance maritime security in the region," Modi said, calling the country as a trusted friend and strategic partner. Times of India, March 12, 2015.

Pakistan should hand over Lakhvi to India or The Hague, says top US Congressman: Pakistan should hand over November 2008 Mumbai (26/11) terror attacks machinator Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi to India or allow the International Criminal Court at The Hague to probe him, one of Washington's most influential politicians on foreign relations said on March 10. According to the report, the comments by Ed Royce, chairman of the United States (US) House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, are the clearest yet by a senior American Congressman echoing India's demand for Pakistan to allow New Delhi a chance to try Lakhvi. Telegraph, March 12, 2015.

Pakistan High Commissioner meets Kashmir separatist leader to brief issues discussed between India and Pakistan: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on March 9 met Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and briefed him about the issues discussed between India and Pakistan during India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad. The two also discussed various developments in Jammu and Kashmir, where a political row has erupted over the release of mastermind of street violence across the Kashmir valley in 2010, Masrat Alam Bhat, during the meeting which lasted for more than half an hour. Daily Excelsior, March 10, 2015.


NEPAL

Parties review statute positions: The ruling and opposition parties on March 13 started fresh negotiations to seek consensus on the disputed issues with a view to wrapping up the prolonged constitution writing process by May 29, 2015, the Republic Day. Before sitting for formal negotiations on the disputes, mainly the names and borders of Federal States, the parties held discussions in two groups. Top leaders from both the fronts reviewed their previous positions and discussed possible ways to arrive at a conclusion. The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) met Madheshi-centric parties while coalition partner Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) had an interaction with the third largest party, Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), in a bid to seek consensus on federalism. eKantipur Online, March 14, 2015.


PAKISTAN

48 militants and 13 civilians among 61 persons killed during the week in FATA: Thirteen dead bodies of tribesmen were found in the deserted mountains of the Shaktai area of South Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 15.

At least 48 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter aircraft targeted their hideouts in Kukikhel area of Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency on March 13. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia Online; The Nation; The Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer,  March 10-16, 2015.  

15 persons killed in suicide attacks on churches in Punjab: At least 15 persons, including 13 Christians and two Policemen, were killed and more than 70 were injured when two suicide bombers attacked two churches near Youhanabad neighbourhood in Lahore District on March 15, sparking mob violence in which two other militants were killed. Youhanabad is home to more than 100,000 Christians, said officials. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan-Jama'at-ul-Ahrar (TTP-JuA) claimed responsibility for the attack. Dawn, March 16, 2015.

Islamabad suspends exchange of convicts with other countries, says Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan: Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on March 15 ordered halt to implementation on the agreements with other countries for exchange of convicted criminals. An unnamed official of Interior Ministry said in a statement that it was revealed in the investigations conducted on the orders of the Interior Minister that in the last many years Pakistanis involved in dangerous crimes abroad were brought to Pakistan under these agreements. Then in connivance with the officers of Interior Ministry and Provincial Governments these convicts were released illegally. Before formulating any transparent policy, the interior minister has stopped the Interior Ministry and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from implementing the agreements. Daily Times, March 16, 2015.

Daish poses no threat to Pakistan, says Corps Commander Lieutenant General Hidayat-ur-Rehman: The Corps Commander Lieutenant General Hidayat-ur-Rehman on March 14 said that terrorist group Daish (also self-styled as the Islamic State) poses no threat to Pakistan. General Hidayat said that there was no need to fret about Daish or its potential emergence in the country. General Hidayat rejected the notion that the terrorist group was silently spreading across the country, saying that the Army and Security Forces were in control of the situation. The News, March 16, 2015.

Almost 275 schools are non-functional in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reveals report: Almost 275 schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are non-functional due to a lack of staff, land disputes and security issues, revealed a report compiled by Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working for education in the Province. According to the report, 15 schools are closed or non-functional in KP’s Nowshera District, 17 schools in Mardan District, seven in Swabi District, seven, including five girls schools, in Peshawar, 40 in Mansehra, 37 in Swat and 14 in Buner District. Likewise, 23 schools are closed in Haripur, 20 in Upper and Lower Dir, eight in Bannu, four each in Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Shangrila, Tank and Karak, eleven in Hangu, two in Chitral, six in Battagram and three in Torghar. Dawn, March 14, 2015.

Terrorism common enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan, states Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said on March 12 that the terrorism is the common enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan, requiring common endeavours to get it defeated. “Pakistan is determined to eliminate terrorism at the earliest by exploiting all available resources. Building stable and cooperative relations with all the countries in the region, including Afghanistan, is part of our vision of a peaceful neighbourhood and region,” he said while talking to Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi, who called on him at the PM House. The News, March 13, 2015.

Fleeing terrorists to be chased and eliminated, says COAS General Raheel Sharif: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, on March 12 said fleeing terrorists will be chased and eliminated as there was no place for them to hide now. The Army Chief reaffirmed the commitment to eliminate all terrorists and rid Pakistan of all types of terrorism. The COAS, who along with Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, visited the North Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and said that the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb would not stop till the job was finished. The News, March 13, 2015.

Operation to go on till last criminal eliminated, says Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar: Appreciating the Sindh Rangers for their commitment to restore normality in Karachi, provincial capital of Sindh a day after they raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters Nine-Zero, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar on March 12 said that the ongoing targeted operation will continue till the elimination of the last criminal and target killer. He said the operation should continue till the port city was purged of terrorists and criminals. The News, March 13, 2015.

Lashkar-i-Islam merges into TTP: The Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) led by Mangal Bagh has merged itself into the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) under a reorganization planned by militants. According to a statement issued by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) ‘spokesman’ Ehsanullah Ehsan on March 12, the reorganized TTP would consist of members of his group, LI and the remaining of the TTP. The head of the new set-up was yet to be named, he added.  The TTP disintegrated last year after a group led by Omar Khalid Khurasani based in Mohmand Agency revolted against Mullah Fazlullah and formed his own faction with the name of JuA. Dawn, March 13, 2015.

TTP exploiting grievances in FATA, says US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) extremists in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have long exploited local grievances in order to sustain their activities, said United States (US) Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall during her presentation on the long-term US strategy for combating terrorism at the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington on March 11. She argued that weak and unpopular Governments also create feelings that encourage terrorism.  She noted that over the past 13 years violent extremist movements had diffused and proliferated, despite continued efforts to eliminate them. Dawn, March 12, 2015.

Pakistan's cyber firm stole information from India, claims US-based IT security firm: According to a two year investigation report by US-based IT security firm, FireEye a Pakistani cyber firm, based at Islamabad, identified as Tranchulas has been found stealing information from Indian government and defence establishments. The US security firm said, the findings revealing that India remains a vulnerable target for cyber attacks even after documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden exposed widespread spying by US National Security Agency. India TV, March 12, 2015.

List of 110 most wanted terrorists issued: Police on March 11 issued a list of 110 most wanted terrorists belonging to various banned outfits and the top ten terrorists on the list were allegedly involved in high-profile suicide attacks, besides sectarian violence. One of the most wanted terrorists, Matiur Rehman, was involved in the attacks on former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and suicide bombing on Sheraton Hotel, Karachi. He carried a PKR 10 million head money. Dawn, March 12, 2015.

Pakistan has more atomic weapons than India, reveals Nuclear Notebook Interactive infographic: According to a new interactive infographic unveiled by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that was founded in 1945 by University of Chicago scientists, Pakistan had about 120 atomic weapons, 10 more than India, in its nuclear arsenal in 2014. The Nuclear Notebook Interactive Infographic provides a visual representation of the Bulletin’s famed Nuclear Notebook, which since 1987 has tracked the number and type of the world’s nuclear arsenals. Having reached a peak of over 65,000 in the late 1980s, the number of nuclear warheads has dropped significantly to a little over 10,000, but more countries now possess them, it shows. The News, March 11, 2015.

24 criminals executed and 26,000 arrested since the launch of NAP across Pakistan, claims report: According to a report, based on information available from December 24, 2014 to March 8, 2015, presented to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on March 10, the Government, since the launch of the National Action Plan (NAP) to rid the country of extremism and terrorism, has so for executed 24 criminals, while the Law Enforcement Agencies have arrested about 26,000 suspects on different charges across the country. The report states that 14 people have been executed in Punjab, seven in Sindh, one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and two in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The News, March 11, 2015.

Islamic State has significant presence in Pakistan through propaganda website: According to authorities, the Islamic State (also known as Daesh or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -ISIS/IS), has significant presence in Pakistan through a website managed by terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Amid confusion and a struggle to remove a legal lacuna to deal with cyber crime-related issues, relevant authorities have been reluctant to block the terrorist groups’ propaganda website — which, according to security analysts, is being used as a launching pad for expansion into Pakistan by the Islamic State and al Qaeda. Tribune, March 10, 2015.

Islamic State supporters launch Facebook rival named Khelafabook: Islamic State (also known as Daesh or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -ISIS/IS) supporters have launched their own version of Facebook, named ‘Khelafabook’. The homepage of the social networking site shows the map of world with an IS logo over all continents. However, Khelafabook, which resembles Facebook, is currently down. The message on the site’s main page reads that the site has been temporarily shut down to protect the identity and information of its members. Tribune, March 10, 2015.

Three zones set up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for swift action against militants: In order to step up action against hardcore criminals and militants, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have established three zones of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) with an immediate effect to cover almost all areas of the province. The CTD was earlier known as the directorate of counter terrorism (DCT), which would only gather intelligence information and pass it to the Districts and other units of Police force for further action.  Dawn, March 10, 2015.


SRI LANKA

Don't need any outsiders in Lanka's war crimes probe, asserts President Maithripala Sirisena: President Maithripala Sirisena on March 12 said that Sri Lanka does not want "any outsiders" in its domestic inquiry into alleged atrocities committed against the Tamil Tigers during the last stages of the country's civil war. "We are ready to get advice and their opinions for the inquiry, but I don't think we need any outsiders because we have all the sources for this," Sirisena said. DNA India, March 13, 2015. 

TNA do not stand for a separate state, says Housing and Samurdhi Minister Sajith Premadasa: Housing and Samurdhi Minister Sajith Premadasa said that Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarians do not stand for a separate state and their purpose is to ensure fair and equal treatment for Tamils. Minister Premadasa said some politicians make allegations against the TNA claiming that they supported President Maithripala Sirisena during the Presidential election to divide the country. This is a political lie used to mislead voters, he said. Daily News, March 11, 2015.


The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

South Asia Intelligence Review [SAIR]

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K. P. S. Gill

Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


A Project of the
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